I COMPLETED my Ride across the United States for Wounded Veterans and The Fisher House Foundation.

This was a journey of a lifetime for many reasons. The main reason was the opportunity to support the young men and women of our military through the Fisher House Foundation. Today's military is a family based military and Fisher House recognizes and focuses their support not only to the individual but also to military families. As a Viet Nam veteran, I remember what it was like returning home from the war. Because of my experiences, I believe it is extremely important to provide support now and in the future to those who have risked their lives serving in the Armed Services. The young men and women of our volunteer military, and their families, are sacrificing for our country whether we support the cause or not.

I was honored to ride with many of the men and women who make up today's military. While at Travis Air Force base visiting the Fisher House, I was greeted by the Travis Hawks bicycle club. They accompanied me on my visit and then rode with me to Sacramento, CA. Along the ride I got to know these young men and women. They have a wonderful attitude about our country and its future. I was also honored to ride with Captain John Snyder of the U.S. Army, currently stationed in Indianapolis. John rode with me from Crawfordsville, Indiana to Indianapolis. It was a fun ride. We stopped at the ROARK bicycle manufacturing facility to see handmade titanium bicycles being made. Then we rode on the Major Taylor Velodrome. John and I discussed our time in the Army. It's amazing the similarities of John's military experience and mine. I spent time at Fort Bragg, NC and so did John. John was a company commander over 3 years and during that time commanded over 18,000 troops. While there, I was trained and learned my military skill craft prior to being sent to Viet Nam.

My observations of John Snyder and those young Air Force personnel are that they share many of the same positive attributes, such as:

• A sense of duty, honor and country
• A positive and happy attitude
• A very strong sense of family
• Willingness to take on leadership to accomplish the mission whatever it is
• Willingness to accept all of our Country's pluses and minuses
• Reaching out and fulfilling their potential to learn and grow
• The sense of opportunity
• The use of empowerment to help and support others

I could go on, but suffice it to say, it was my honor to be able to spend time with these wonderful young men and women. They made a lasting impression on me, and I can only hope that I was somewhat like them when I was in the Army. There were others who I wanted to meet or ride with, but schedules or routes made it very difficult to allow this to happen. However, this leaves open the possibility that I could do rides like this in the future.

Another benefit of the journey was meeting and talking with the many kind and generous Americans across the United States who make our country great. However, the kindness and generosity began in Maryland. I told my spinning instructor Gerry at Fitness First Layhill about my journey and she worked with so many others to create a very successful fund raising Spin-A-Thon. At the same time, my wife Cathy and I sent out letters to all our family and friends. The response was overwhelming. Our family and friends donated the majority of funds to the Fisher House Foundation fund raising effort. Many of the individuals who we met over the past five months also made donations after learning about my ride and Fisher House. It is because of our family and friends and all of our new friends that I was able to raise over $20,000 for the Fisher House Foundation.

An extra special bonus of my ride across the United States was getting to know and becoming fast friends with several very dear individuals who rode with me for 52 days. Andrew, Brian, Cliff, Gary, Robert, Tim, Arlene and Jay were my constant companions.

It was very bittersweet to finally reach the beach in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I realized it would be the last time I would be with some of these truly wonderful FRIENDS who spent the last 52+ days riding with me across the United States. They had set the same goal as I did; ride slowly and take as many pictures and talk with as many people as we could. I do believe that we accomplished our goal. My dear FRIENDS will be greatly missed! I am already missing our camaraderie and our special times together!

I have to say that I was the most fortunate of the group. I was able to grow so much because of my riding partners' attitudes and the many long conversations we shared. I mentioned to Cathy my wife that I believe I have matured over these past 52+ days because of these wonderful individuals. Not only did I enhance my cycling abilities, but I also improved as a person because of them.

The ride leadership team was beyond excellent! Andy, Michelle, Gerard, Tom and Christine set the stage for a GREAT trip! I remember in San Francisco when they said "they didn't remember hearing anyone who completed the ride say they took too many pictures". They mentioned this many times during the ride and actually pointed out opportunities to take photos along the way. Christine was always willing to take pictures of us in front of the many state welcome signs we rode past. The ride leadership team created a very positive and supportive environment for riding our bicycles and seeing the United States up close.

When beginning the ride in San Francisco, I rode over glass and experienced three flat tires over the first hour. Each time Gerard was there removing the wheel and fixing the flat. I would try to do this myself, but Gerard would remove the tire before I could even pick up the bicycle. Everything needed or required was provided by this experienced and supportive ride team, like 75 SPF sun screen, special snacks or food at rest stops (SAG stops) when requested.

When our friend Cliff's bicycle broke, that afternoon Andy and Gerard took Cliff and his broken bicycle to a bike shop in hopes of having it repaired or worse, buy a new bicycle. It was decided that the best option for Cliff was to replace the bicycle frame. Andy and Gerard spent the remainder of the evening (past 10:30 pm) building Cliff's new frame so he could have a fully functioning bicycle. When we awoke the next morning, Cliff had a new bicycle awaiting him to complete his cross country journey. What a great example of support from our ride leadership team.

Lastly, I have a much better appreciation of our country because of the people who supported me at home and along the way, as well as those who rode with me across the United States. We are a nation of kind and generous citizens. We are fortunate to have many who dedicated their lives to protecting and defending our basic human freedoms from tyranny and oppression. I am truly blessed and honored to have had the opportunity to support a worthy cause such as Fisher House and see our GREAT Nation up close and personal. It is truly "America the Beautiful".